youth
nounThe time of life when someone is young, between being a child and becoming an adult.
nounA young person, especially a teenager or young adult.
nounThe quality of being young.
nounYoung people as a group.
Syllables
1 syllable
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Letter Y (Consonant)
At the start of a word or syllable, Y makes the /j/ sound, like in 'yes', 'yet', and 'yell'.
Y at the beginning of a word acts as a consonant and makes the /j/ sound. In the middle or end of a word, Y acts as a vowel (gym, happy, my). Context determines which role Y plays.
Tip
Y at the start says /j/ — yes, you got it!
Examples
Phonics Rule: OU says /uː/
OU can say the long /uː/ sound, like in 'soup', 'group', and 'you'.
OU is a flexible vowel team. Besides its common /aʊ/ sound (out, loud), it can say /uː/ as in soup, group, you, youth, and wound.
Tip
OU can say oo — soup, group, you!
Examples
Phonics Rule: TH Digraph (Unvoiced)
TH can make a soft sound /θ/, like in 'think' and 'bath'. Just air, no buzz!
The unvoiced TH /θ/ is the quiet, breathy version. Your throat doesn't vibrate. Stick your tongue between your teeth and blow air.
Tip
Unvoiced TH is quiet — think with three teeth!
Examples
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